Recently, a young singer named Emaza Gibson filed a lawsuit against Jason Derulo. The suit claims that Derulo tried to pressure Gibson into drinking, drugs, and sex after signing her to his imprint. The suit further claims that the “Whatcha Say” singer dropped her from the label when she refused his advances. Now, he has responded to the allegations.
Videos by American Songwriter
NBC News reported the lawsuit yesterday morning. Derulo took to social media to address the lawsuit in an Instagram video late last night. “I wouldn’t normally comment but these claims are completely false and hurtful,” he began, looking into the camera. “I stand against all forms of harassment and I remain supportive of anybody following their dreams,” he assured his fans.
Derulo added, “I’ve always strived to live my life in a positively impactful way, and that’s why I sit here before you today deeply offended by these defamatory claims.” He ended the message with, “God bless.”
Derulo probably isn’t able to address any of the specific claims in Gibson’s lawsuit for legal reasons. As a result, he released a blanket statement denying the laundry list of allegations against him.
In the suit, Gibson claimed that Derulo repeatedly tried to take her out for dinner and drinks. However, she declined because she wanted to keep their relationship professional. Additionally, she claims that he switched tactics and tried to get her to drink alcohol in the studio.
Gibson’s suit goes on to claim that Derulo told her she may have to partake in “fish scales and goat skin,” during one meeting. Fish scales, she surmised, referred to cocaine. After doing research online, she concluded that “goat skin” was an allusion to occult rituals involving sex, blood, and sacrificing goats. The lawsuit states that Gibson saw these repeated advances as “an explicit demand for sex-in-exchange-for-success.”
The lawsuit accuses Derulo, Future History, and Atlantic Records of sexual harassment, retaliatory termination, breach of contract, failure to remedy workplace harassment, and violation of California’s Civil Rights Act. Gibson is seeking unpaid wages, loss of earnings, damages for emotional distress, deferred compensation, and other employment benefits in the suit.
Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images
